Our Bureau
Wake Forest, NC
By the time Akshay was 9 years old, he asked his father, what he needed to do to become the best golfer in the world! Indian American golfer Akshay Bhatia prevailed in a playoff to script a dramatic win at the Texas Open. He earned a spot at next week’s Augusta Masters, which will be his first appearance in a Major.
It was virtually the last spot left at the Augusta Masters and Bhatia claimed it after staving off a serious challenge from Denny McCarthy, who birdied eight of the last nine holes at the TPC San Antonio here.
The win gets Bhatia into the Masters, a wish and promise he had made to his mother years ago. “It’s hard to win out there as it showed today. My mom’s birthday was April 1 and her wish was to go to the Masters.”
“Man, what a crazy, crazy day. This is awesome,” Bhatia said.
The 22-year-old Bhatia (67), who started the day four shots ahead, went six clear before a stunning back-nine rally by McCarthy saw the two players tied at 20-under after 72 holes.
Bhatia, who turned pro in 2019, won at the Barracuda Championship last summer and it was an Additional Event during The Open Championship. So he did not get a Masters call.
Ten years ago, Bhatia played in the Drive, Chip & Putt National Finals at the home of the Masters. The Drive, Chip & Putt National Finals for 2024 were held this past weekend. Bhatia was born in Northridge, Calif., but now resides in Wake Forest, N.C.
